Tina, one of the film’s protagonists and most dynamic characters, searches for a malignant force at the Prime Minister’s election dinner [photo taken by Nori Veit]
Attending a movie theater has become somewhat of a lost hobby following the COVID-19 pandemic. The convenience of at-home cinema, paired with the development of new streaming services and the augmentation of those that already exist have permanently altered the cinema industry.
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore was released April 15th amidst a plethora of anxiously awaiting Harry Potter movie fans. A continuation of the Fantastic Beasts Franchise, this film follows the narrative of Newt Scamander, the protagonist of the first two films: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
The hype and anticipation for this film warranted a trip to the movie theater to partake in the complete cinematic experience in what was, for many, the first time since 2019.
Upon arrival, the Regal UA IMAX movie theater at Colorado Center greeted us with an eerie silence. Apart from the theater staff that scanned our tickets at the door and those at the concession stand, there wasn’t a person in sight.
“There’s no way you can go to the movies without candy and too much popcorn,” stated Ella Beattie, a Harry Potter enthusiast, after the purchase of a large bowl of popcorn that required both hands to carry. “If you aren’t overly stuffed by the end of the movie, did you even go?”
Having arrived early to watch the film’s previews, empty seats stared back at us as we entered the theater itself.
Rather than being greeted by the familiar, mouth watering smell of buttered popcorn as we found our seats, however, the cinema smelled sickeningly sterile, and almost musty from lack of use.
Apart from a couple sharing a box of Junior Mints, the theater seats were largely empty, only about 9 out of nearly 80 seats had been filled for the film.
“The previews are half the fun!” giggled Gracie, a fellow Harry Potter enthusiast, as the lights dimmed and the programming began, throwing us into an utter time warp.
Movie previews flashed by, advertising films varying from horror to Rom-Com. A comfortable and welcoming aspect of the cinematic experience, these trailers differed slightly from my memory of them before the pandemic, as they advertised viewing the films from various streaming platforms as well as in the theater. It began to become painfully clear to me that, although making every attempt at creating a dynamic and engaging cinematic experience, the cinema industry is actively losing their grip on viewers.
In the film, Albus Dumbledore, a pivotal character in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter franchise, came together with Newt Scamander, Jacob Kowalski, and company from the Fantastic Beasts series in a classic narrative: defeating a malignant force. In this case, the force of evil manifested in the form of Gallert Grindelwald, Dumbledore’s ex-lover turned arch rival.
Rated a mere 47% on Rotten Tomatoes, critics described this film as “A beautiful story around brothers, lost love, and suppressed family. Mikkelson is amazing as Grindelwald, Law makes Dumbledore relatable and Redmayne keeps bringing charisma to the Wizarding World’s most unique character.” Contrasting reviews highlight the mediocre plotline that undermines the exceptional acting in this film, especially Eddie Redmayne and Mads Mikkelson.
Without giving any spoilers, this movie followed a classic ‘good and evil’ narrative, and was packed with references from the original Harry Potter films to bolster connection and engagement.
We left the theater feeling full and slightly sick from movie snacks, and, overall, satisfied with the movie’s content and the experience. Though, yes, cinema isn’t what it used to be, it was worth the wait for the cinematic experience, and something I would recommend to others.
MFJS Reporter Spring 2022 